Goat Head Sole Spikes

In my travels around the US I run into products that certainly need to be publicized. Goat Head Sole Spikes are one of those items. This year, felt soles are banned in Alaska and a number of other states. This means, of course, that we will all be wading with rubber soles. And although wading rubber has improved markedly in the last few years, it has not improved to the point of equality with felt. The answer is Goat Head Sole Spikes. Back in the old days, we all screwed pan head sheet metal screws into the bottom of our boots to convert them into spiked soles. Goat Head Sole Spikes take that idea to a whole new level. See them at goatheadgear.com. Here’s the info from their site:

Goat Head Sole Spikes™ are carefully designed traction spikes that screw directly into the soles of most any outdoor shoe. Unlike clumsy strap-on devices that rob the feel and agility of your performance shoe, you’ll hardly notice your Sole Spikes except for the earth-gripping traction you gain. Each cup contains 24 Sole Spikes made from cold-forged, heat-hardened, corrosion resistant stainless steel for maximum durability as well as a 1/4″ nut setting drill bit; 28 biting edges on each head offer superior traction with fewer spikes. Serrated flange “locks” the spike into the sole to prevent back-turning and fall out. Needle point screw allows for easy installation without pre-drilling. Short tip and beefy flange prevent accidental push through to the foot. Bright finish makes it easier to find if you happen to drop a spike in snow or gravel. Use of Sole Spikes™ can increase the life of your sole wear and the small gauge of the tip means minimal impact to your sole if you remove the spikes later but most importantly, they can help keep you safe! In April of 2010 my friend Jeff came up with the idea of engineering a screw for use in trail and winter running and approached me about partnering with him to see if we could design and sell a cool and useful outdoor product. I immediately saw the potential for applying these to fishing and thought we could bring something interesting to the market. I made our first rough models for the spikes and we had them refined and enhanced with the help of a gun parts engineer. We collaborated on the name and feel of our brand and I designed the logo and packaging. It has been a fun journey these last 20 months and we are so excited to finally bring them to the public. Given the industry shift away from felt soled wading boots we think our spikes will make a real difference for anglers and hopefully help them feel more confident in their wading and ultimately keep them safe.

Goat Head Sole Spikes come with a magnetic driver that makes putting them in breeze

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"Fly Fishing, the Book Series" is now underway. Begun in 2010 as a collaboration between my Tomorrow River Press company and Jason's Fish, Flies & Water, this planned 20-book series will explore a huge range of fly-fishing topics. The Series books are available signed and personalized via my eBay store. Unsigned copies of books (at the basic retail price) are available here or from other angling book retailers.